JPH0926630A - Photographic printer and exposure method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the picture element density of a print by suppressing the rising of the cost as low as possible. SOLUTION: After a picture is displayed on a liquid crystal panel and a photographic printing paper 54 has a picture exposure, only the printing paper 54 is carried by a distance Y on the printing paper 54 corresponding to the picture element pitch of the liquid crystal panel, to execute the picture exposure again. Thus, the picture exposure is attained in regions 126 to 131 shifted from regions 120 to 125 exposed in the first time on the printing paper 54 by the distance Y respectively, to increase the density of the exposed part in the printing paper 54. Therefore, the picture element density of the print can be improved while the rising of the cost is minimized, without installing a piezoelectric element.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographic printer and an exposure method, and more particularly, to a photographic printer having an exposure unit for displaying an image on a liquid crystal panel to expose a photosensitive material, and an exposure method in the photographic printer. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, each frame is arranged in a matrix and reduced-printed so that it is possible to easily retrieve what kind of photograph has been taken on one developed negative film. Index prints are known. This index print is produced in a photographic printer provided with a sub-exposure section that displays an image on a liquid crystal panel and performs an exposure process. That is, in the sub-exposure unit, the image data of each frame of the negative film read by a predetermined scanner is stored in a predetermined image memory, and the image data of several frames is read out from the image memory at a predetermined timing and is displayed on the liquid crystal panel. By displaying and exposing the displayed images of several frames on the printing paper, the index images of several frames are exposed. After that, the index print relating to the developed negative film is produced by repeating a series of operations of conveying the photographic paper for a predetermined distance and exposing the images of the next several frames on the photographic paper as described above.

When a print is produced by displaying an image on a liquid crystal panel and exposing the displayed image on photographic paper like the index print, the pixel density of the produced print is the pixel density of the liquid crystal panel. Was influenced by.

Therefore, conventionally, a piezoelectric element is installed in the sub-exposure part of a photographic printer, the liquid crystal panel is slightly moved by the piezoelectric element by the pixel pitch, and the same image is exposed a plurality of times. Techniques for improving the pixel density of prints are known.

However, in the above technique, since it is necessary to install the piezoelectric element in the sub-exposure portion, an increase in cost due to the piezoelectric element to be installed cannot be avoided.

In addition, like the design of playing cards,
In some cases, multiple images were exposed that had the same main pattern but differed only in some patterns. In many cases, souvenir photographs at weddings and other occasions are made with elaborate tastes as described above.

However, in the case of exposing an image as described above, the pre-exposure mask has to be replaced every time a different pattern is exposed in each image, which is very troublesome.

By the way, the technique of exposing the image of the index print in the sub-exposure portion has a problem that the pixel density of the print to be produced depends on the pixel density of the liquid crystal panel, but the image is previously recorded. There is an advantage that the image data stored in the memory can be read and the image to be exposed can be easily displayed on the liquid crystal panel.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above facts, and it is a first object of the present invention to provide a photographic printer capable of minimizing the cost increase and improving the pixel density of a print. A second object of the present invention is to provide an exposure method capable of saving the processing of exposing a plurality of images having the same main pattern but different only in some patterns.

[0010]

In order to achieve the first object, the invention according to claim 1 is a photographic printer having an exposure section for displaying an image on a liquid crystal panel and exposing the photosensitive material. Then, after the image is exposed by the exposure unit, a movement control unit that moves the photosensitive material with respect to the liquid crystal panel by a distance on the photosensitive material corresponding to the pixel pitch of the liquid crystal panel, and the movement control unit moves the photosensitive material. After letting
Exposure control means for controlling the exposure unit so as to expose the image again.

According to the first aspect of the invention, after the image is displayed on the liquid crystal panel in the exposure section and the photosensitive material is exposed, the movement control means causes the liquid crystal panel to be moved by a distance on the photosensitive material corresponding to the pixel pitch of the liquid crystal panel. Then, the photosensitive material is moved, and the exposure unit controls the exposure unit to expose the image again. As a result, the image is exposed in an area on the photosensitive material that is displaced from the first exposed area by a distance corresponding to the pixel pitch, and the density of the exposed portion of the photosensitive material increases. Therefore, it is possible to improve the pixel density of the print without installing the piezoelectric element while minimizing the cost increase. In order to obtain a print image with a high pixel density, the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel for the first time and the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel after the movement of the photosensitive material may be the same image. It may be an image in which the image area is shifted according to the amount.

Further, since the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel is magnified and imaged on the photosensitive material in the exposure portion, the distance on the photosensitive material corresponding to the pixel pitch is larger than the pixel pitch on the liquid crystal panel. Is big. Therefore, it is easier and more accurate to control the distance on the photosensitive material as in the first aspect of the invention than to control the distance for the pixel pitch by the piezoelectric element. .

Next, in order to achieve the above first object,
The invention according to claim 2 is an exposure method in a photographic printer having an exposure unit for displaying an image on a liquid crystal panel and exposing the photosensitive material, wherein the image is exposed by the exposure unit, and a pixel pitch of the liquid crystal panel is obtained. It is characterized in that the photosensitive material is moved with respect to the liquid crystal panel by a distance on the corresponding photosensitive material, and the image is exposed again by the exposing section.

According to the second aspect of the invention, similarly to the first aspect of the invention, the image is exposed in an area deviated from the first exposed area on the photosensitive material by a distance corresponding to the pixel pitch. Therefore, the density of the exposed portion of the photosensitive material increases. Therefore, it is possible to improve the pixel density of the print without installing the piezoelectric element while minimizing the cost increase.

Next, in order to achieve the second object,
The invention according to claim 3 is an exposure method in a photographic printer having an exposure unit for displaying an image on a liquid crystal panel and exposing the photosensitive material, wherein each image is commonly incorporated in the same region of each image. A main image portion and an additional image portion other than the main image portion are separated, and the additional image portion in each image is sequentially switched to combine with the main image portion to form an image to be displayed on a liquid crystal panel. And

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a plurality of images including a main image portion commonly incorporated in the same area of each image and an additional image portion other than the main image portion, such as a Trump picture. In the case of exposing, each image is separated into a main image portion and an additional image portion, and the additional image portion in each image is sequentially switched and combined with the main image portion to form an image to be displayed on the liquid crystal panel. On the other hand, the photographic printer provided with the exposure unit has an advantage that the additional image unit can be easily displayed on the liquid crystal panel without performing the replacement work of the pre-exposure mask. Can be switched in order to form an image to be displayed on the liquid crystal panel in combination with the main image portion, can be easily displayed on the liquid crystal panel, and the photosensitive material can be exposed without any trouble.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] The configuration of a printer processor 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The printer processor 10 whose outside is covered with a casing 12 performs a process of developing, fixing, rinsing, and drying a printer unit 58 that exposes the printing paper of the main print and the sub-print, and the exposed printing paper. Processor unit 7
2 is provided.

First, the structure of the printer unit 58 will be described.
A work table 14 protruding from the casing 12 to the left in FIG. 1 is installed in the printer processor 10, and a negative film 16 is provided on the upper surface of the work table 14.
There are arranged a negative carrier 18 for setting and a keyboard 15 for the operator to input commands, data and the like.

A main exposure light source section 36 is provided below the work table 14. A light source 38 is installed in the main exposure light source section 36, and the light emitted from the light source 38 is
Color correction filter (hereinafter, Color-Correction Filter: C
The negative film 16 set on the negative carrier 18 is reached via a C filter 40) and a diffusion tube 42.
The CC filter 40 has C (cyan), M (magenta), Y
It is composed of three sets of (yellow) filters, and each filter operates under the control of the CC filter control unit 39,
The light emitted from the light source 38 can appear and disappear on the optical axis.

An arm 44 is formed on the downstream side of the negative carrier 18 (upper side in FIG. 1).
A main exposure optical system 46 and a sub-printing section 22 that exposes sub-prints such as index prints are provided therein.

A half mirror 43 is arranged at the lowermost part of the main exposure optical system 46, and the light transmitted through the negative film 16 set on the negative carrier 18 reaches it. An exposure lens 48 for changing the magnification of an image to be exposed and a black shutter 50 for blocking the exposure light are sequentially arranged on the downstream side of the optical path passing through the half mirror 43. A mirror 51 that reflects the exposure light in a substantially right-angled direction is arranged on the downstream side of the black shutter 50, and the exposure light reflected by the mirror 51 is applied to a photographic printing paper 54 set in an exposure chamber 52. The photographic paper 54 is thus exposed.

On the other hand, a photometric lens 45 for changing the magnification of the photometric image is arranged on the downstream side of the optical path reflected by the half mirror 43, and on the downstream side of the photometric lens 45, a half A mirror 47 is arranged. A scanner 108 composed of an image sensor or the like is arranged in the direction in which light is reflected by the half mirror 47.
The scanner 108 is connected to an image signal processing unit 102 that performs predetermined image processing on the image data of each frame of the negative film 16 read by the scanner 108.

A simulator 104 as an image display device is connected to the image signal processing unit 102, and the simulator 104 displays images of each frame of the negative film 16 when the images are produced based on set conditions. A print simulation image is displayed.

An image memory 106 for storing image data is connected to the image signal processing unit 102, and the image signal processing unit 102 stores the image data of each frame of the negative film 16 read by the scanner 108. It is stored in the image memory 106.

A negative density measuring section 56 for measuring the image density of each frame of the negative film 16 is provided on the downstream side of the optical path passing through the half mirror 47, and the negative density measuring section 56 has an image sensor. Scanner 56B composed of the like and the negative film 1 read by the scanner 56B
Negative density measuring device 56A for measuring the image density of each frame of 6
And are installed.

The sub-printing section 22 has a light emitting diode (hereinafter, referred to as B-LED) 25 that emits a blue component of light and a light emitting diode (hereinafter, R-) that emits a red component as light sources for exposure of the index print. Called LED)
26, and a light emitting diode that emits a green component (hereinafter,
A G-LED) 27 is provided, and the operation of these is controlled by the light source controller 24. B-LED2
5 is arranged on the exposure optical axis X, a dichroic mirror 28 is arranged on the downstream side in the traveling direction of the light emitted from the B-LED 25, and the optical axis of the red light emitted from the R-LED 26, and The optical axis of the green light emitted from the G-LED 27 is aligned with the exposure optical axis X.

At the downstream side of the dichroic mirror 28 in the light traveling direction, the end of the optical path (a position that does not affect the image)
A light source light sensor 29 for measuring the light amount of the light emitted from the light source is arranged in the direction in which the mirror 30 reflects light.

On the downstream side of the arrangement position of the mirror 30,
The liquid crystal panel 31 is arranged on a surface perpendicular to the exposure optical axis X. On the image display surface 31A (see FIG. 3) of the liquid crystal panel 31, a large number of pixels capable of displaying white, black, and intermediate colors thereof are regularly arranged by electric means. It is possible to express 256 gradations. The liquid crystal panel 31 includes a liquid crystal panel driver 32 that drives image display on the liquid crystal panel 31.
The liquid crystal panel driver 32 is connected to a sub-control unit 23 that monitors and controls various processing states in the sub-printing unit 22.

The sub control unit 23 is a CPU, RA (not shown).
M, a ROM, an input / output controller, and the like, and are connected to the image memory 106 via the input / output controller. The sub control unit 23 reads out the image data of each frame of the negative film 16 stored in the image memory 106, forms one piece of index image data in which the frame images are arranged according to a predetermined rule, and forms one piece of the formed index. An image corresponding to image data of a predetermined number of frames of the image data, for example, five frames (one column) is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 31 by the liquid crystal panel driver 32. In addition, among the image data for one column, R color, G
An image corresponding to the image data of only the color components of the colors B and B can be displayed on the liquid crystal panel 31.

On the downstream side of the arrangement position of the liquid crystal panel 31, a mirror 34 is provided at the end of the optical path (a position that does not affect the image).
Is disposed, and a transmitted light amount sensor 33 for measuring the amount of light transmitted through the liquid crystal panel 31 is disposed in the direction in which light is reflected by the mirror 34.

On the downstream side of the arrangement position of the mirror 34,
An exposure lens 35 for changing the magnification of the image of the sub-print to be exposed is arranged, and an index print image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 31 by the exposure lens 35 and projected by exposure light is provided on a photographic paper 54 by a predetermined amount. An image is formed at a magnification.

Further, the light source control unit 24, the light source light amount sensor 29 and the transmitted light amount sensor 33 described above are further connected to the sub control unit 23, and the sub control unit 23 measures R measured by the light source light amount sensor 29. , G, and B, the appropriate light amount correction amount is calculated based on the light amount values, and the B-LED 25,
The light source control unit 24 corrects the amount of light emitted from the R-LED 26 and the G-LED 27. Similarly, the sub-control unit 23 controls the liquid crystal panel driver 32 based on the transmitted light amount value measured by the transmitted light amount sensor 33 to adjust the density of the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 31 so as to obtain an appropriate transmitted light amount. I do.

Like the sub control unit 23, the main control unit 20 for controlling and monitoring the entire printer processor 10 is provided.
Is provided below the exposure chamber 52. The main control unit 20 includes a CPU (not shown), a RAM, a ROM, an input / output controller, and the like. The main control unit 20 includes:
The above-described CC filter control unit 39 and the negative density measuring device 56
A, the image signal processing unit 102 and the sub control unit 23 are connected, and monitor and control the operation of each of these components.

A mounting portion 60 is provided at a corner between the upper right side surface of the arm 44 and the upper surface of the casing 12, and the mounting portion 60 is a paper for accommodating the printing paper 54 wound around the reel 62 in layers. The magazine 64 is mounted.

A roller pair 66 is arranged near the mounting portion 60, and holds the photographic printing paper 54 in a horizontal state to expose the exposure chamber 52.
Transport to The photographic paper 54 is placed on the roller 6 before the arm 44.
It is wound around 7, turned 90 degrees, and hangs down. A first stock unit 69 is provided between the roller 66 and the roller 67 to guide and stock the photographic paper in a substantially U-shape.

A roller 68 is provided below the exposure section of the exposure chamber 52.
A, 68B, and 68C are arranged, and the printing paper 54 on which the image of the negative film 16 is printed in the exposure chamber 52 is turned by approximately 90 degrees by each of the rollers 68A, 68B, and 68C, and is turned to a processor unit 72 described later. Conveyed.

A cutter 71 is arranged on the downstream side of the roller 68A, and the cutter 71 cuts the rear end of the printing paper 54 which has been exposed. The printing paper 54 that has been cut by the cutter 71 and left in the exposure chamber 52 can be rewound into the paper magazine 64 again. Also, the roller 68
A between the printing paper 54 and the roller 68B.
There is provided a second stock portion 73 for guiding and stocking in a substantially U shape. In the second stock unit 73,
By stocking the printing paper 54, the printer unit 58
And the difference in processing time between the processor unit 72 and the processor unit 72 is absorbed.

Next, the configuration of the processor section 72 will be described. The processor section 72 is provided with a color developing processing tank 74 storing a color developing processing liquid, a bleach-fixing processing tank 76 storing a bleach-fixing processing liquid, and a plurality of rinsing processing tanks 78 storing a washing processing liquid. The photographic printing paper 54 is sequentially transported through the color developing tank 74, the bleach-fixing tank 76, and the plurality of rinsing tanks 78, so that the developing, fixing, and rinsing processes are sequentially performed. Photographic paper 54 that has been washed
Is transported to the drying section 80 adjacent to the rinsing tank 78,
In the drying section 80, the photographic paper 54 is wound around rollers and exposed to high-temperature air to be dried.

The photographic printing paper 54 is nipped by a pair of rollers (not shown), and is discharged from the drying section 80 at a constant speed after the completion of the drying process. A cutter unit 84 is provided on the downstream side of the drying unit 80, and the cutter unit 84 has a cut mark sensor 86 for detecting a cut mark applied to the photographic printing paper 54.
A paper density measuring unit 90 for measuring the density of the printing paper 54 and a cutter 88 for cutting the printing paper 54 are installed. The cut mark sensor 86, the paper density measuring unit 90, and the cutter 88 are respectively the main control unit 20.
It is connected to the. In the cutter unit 84, the photographic printing paper 54 is cut by the cutter 88 for each image frame, and the photographic print is completed.

The completed photographic prints are discharged to the sorter unit 92, sorted in the sorter unit 92, and subjected to a predetermined verification work. By this verification work, after defective prints such as so-called out-of-focus images are extracted, normal photographic prints are returned to the customer together with the negative film.

By the way, in relation to the present invention, the sub-control unit 2
After displaying an image on the liquid crystal panel 31 and exposing the image 3, the printing paper 5 is the distance Y (see FIG. 3A) on the printing paper 54 corresponding to the pixel pitch of the image display surface 31A of the liquid crystal panel 31.
The main control unit 20 is instructed to carry the sheet No. 4. Further, after the photographic printing paper 54 has been conveyed by the distance Y by the main control unit 20, the sub control unit 23 has a function of displaying the same image on the liquid crystal panel 31 again and exposing it.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the sub-control unit 23 has a function of displaying a plurality of frame images on the liquid crystal panel 31 at the same time by reducing them, and exposing the plurality of frame images at the same time.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. First, the printer unit 5 of the printer processor 10
The exposure process of the main print in No. 8 will be described. With the black shutter 50 closed, the negative film 16 on which the image to be printed is recorded is set on the negative carrier 18, the light source 38 is turned on, and the image of the negative film 16 formed by the light transmitted through the negative film 16 is displayed. The density is measured by the negative density measuring unit 56. Measured negative film 1
Based on the density of the image of No. 6, the main control unit 20 sets appropriate exposure conditions (for example, the insertion amount of each filter of the filter unit 40). Next, the black shutter 50 is opened, and the image on the negative film 16 is exposed on the photographic printing paper 54 based on the set exposure conditions.

Next, as the exposure processing of the sub-print in the printer section 58, a case where the sub-print section 22 exposes a frame image similar to the main print will be described.
The negative film 16 on which the image to be printed is recorded is set on the negative carrier 18, the light source 38 is turned on, and the negative film 1 is imaged by the light transmitted through the negative film 16.
The image 6 is read by the scanner 108, and the read image data is read by the image signal processing unit 102.
6 is stored. By the sub-control unit 23, the image memory 106
The image data is read from the image data, the image corresponding to the blue image is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 31, and the B-LED 25 is turned on so that the blue component of the image data (hereinafter referred to as the blue image) is formed on the photographic paper 54. The light is turned on for a time corresponding to the set exposure conditions. Thus, the photographic paper 54 is exposed to the blue image of the image data. Thereafter, similarly, the red component (red image) and the green component (green image) of the image data are displayed on the liquid crystal panel 31, and the R-LED 2 is displayed.
6. The G-LED 27 is turned on to expose the red and green images of the image data on the photographic printing paper 54. As a result, the image to be printed is exposed on the photographic printing paper 54.

Next, the processing in the processor section 72 will be described. After the image to be printed is exposed on the printing paper 54 as described above, the printing paper 54 is processed by the processor unit 72.
The color developing processing tank 74, the bleach-fixing processing tank 76, and the plurality of rinsing processing tanks 78 are sequentially conveyed, so that the developing, fixing, and washing processes are sequentially performed on the printing paper 54.
The photographic printing paper 54 that has been washed with water is conveyed to the drying unit 80 and is dried with high temperature air. The dried photographic printing paper 54 is conveyed to the cutter unit 84, cut by the cutter 88 for each image frame, and becomes a photographic print. Then, the photographic prints are discharged to the sorter unit 90 and sorted in the sorter unit 90.

Now, the operation of the present invention will be described. When the operator uses the keyboard 15 to issue an exposure processing start instruction to increase the pixel density and expose a predetermined image, the sub-control unit 23 starts executing the exposure processing control routine shown in FIG.

In step 202, the designated predetermined image data is read from the image memory 106, and in the next step 204, the image is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 31.
In the next step 206, the displayed image is printed on printing paper 54.
To the next step 208 after a predetermined exposure time has elapsed.
The display of the liquid crystal panel 31 is canceled with.

In the next step 210, the liquid crystal panel 31
Paper 54 corresponding to the pixel pitch of the image display surface 31A of
The main controller 20 is instructed to convey the photographic printing paper 54 by the above distance Y. As a result, the main control unit 20 conveys the photographic printing paper 54 from the position shown in FIG. 3A by the distance Y in the conveying direction shown by the arrow A, and reaches the position shown in FIG. 3B. In FIG. 3A, regions 120 to 125 corresponding to the pixels of the liquid crystal panel 31 are shown in FIG.
To the position indicated by the broken line.

In the next step 212, the same image as in the above step 204 is displayed again on the liquid crystal panel 31, and in the next step 214, the exposure is performed again. This allows
In FIG. 3B, the regions 126 to 131 corresponding to the pixels of the liquid crystal panel 31 are newly exposed, and the density of the exposed portion of the printing paper 54 increases. It should be noted that the image density displayed on the liquid crystal panel 31 is adjusted in anticipation of the exposure being performed twice for the area exposed by the above-mentioned two exposures (for example, the area 126A in FIG. 3B). Then, the amount of exposure light in one exposure is halved.

Then, after the display of the liquid crystal panel 31 is released in the next step 216, in step 218, the exposed photographic printing paper 54 in the processor section 72 is
Develop, fix, wash with water, and dry to make photographic prints. As is clear from comparison between FIGS. 3A and 3B, the density of the exposed portion of the photographic printing paper 54 increases, so that the pixel density of the photographic print also improves.

Therefore, according to the first embodiment, the pixel density of the photographic print can be improved only by controlling the conveyance of the printing paper 54 as described above without installing the piezoelectric element. That is, it is possible to improve the pixel density of the print while suppressing the cost increase to the minimum.

In the above first embodiment, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (A), the case where the distance Y corresponding to the pixel pitch of the liquid crystal panel 31 and the distance Z corresponding to the pixel width of the printing paper 54 in the transport direction are substantially equal to each other has been described.
For example, when the distance Y is several times or more the distance Z, after exposing a predetermined image, the photographic printing paper 54 is conveyed by the distance Z and the predetermined image is re-exposed by repeating a series of operations a plurality of times. The pixel density of print can be improved.

Further, the sub-control unit 23 can simultaneously expose a plurality of frame images by simultaneously displaying a plurality of frame images on the image display surface 31A of the liquid crystal panel 31 as shown in FIG. The efficiency of processing can be improved. However, as described above, the image display surface 31 of a certain size is
When a plurality of frame images are displayed on A at the same time, each frame image is reduced and displayed. Here, in the case of stretching and exposing individual frame images displayed in a reduced size to create normal photographic prints or large size prints,
Although there is a concern that the pixels will be printed with coarse pixels, the above problems can be solved by improving the pixel density of the print as in the first embodiment. Note that FIG. 5 shows the case where two images are simultaneously exposed, but the same applies to the case where three or more images are simultaneously exposed.

[Second Embodiment] The second embodiment will be described below. The configuration in the second embodiment is almost the same as the configuration in the above-described first embodiment, and the same components are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

When the sub-control unit 23 successively exposes images having the same main picture but only a part of the pictures, such as the playing card pictures 142, 144, 146 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, each image data is separately stored in the image memory 106 into a main image portion 142A commonly incorporated in the same area of each image and an additional pattern 142B different for each image, and stored as necessary. It has a function of separately reading from the image memory 106 and exposing. It should be noted that exposing each image in this way by dividing it into a main image portion common to each image and an additional pattern that is different for each image is represented by a Trump pattern print. Called.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. The exposure process of the main print in the printer unit 58 of the printer processor 10, the exposure process of the sub-print in the printer unit 58, and the process in the processor unit 72 are the same as those described in the above-described first embodiment. , Description is omitted.

Therefore, the operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The image data to be printed is assumed to be stored in the image memory 106 in advance according to the above procedure.

When the operator uses the keyboard 15 to specify the image data of the object to be played by playing cards (here, the playing card patterns shown in FIGS. 6 and 7) and gives an instruction to start playing the playing cards, the sub control unit 23 displays the images. The control routine for playing cards shown in 8 is started.

In step 232, the main image portion 142A is read from the image memory 106, and in the next step 234, the additional pattern 142B is read from the image memory 106. In the next step 236, the main image portion 142A and the additional pattern 142B are simultaneously displayed on the liquid crystal panel 31,
In the next step 238, the entire displayed image 142 is exposed on the photographic printing paper 54 as shown in FIG.

After the exposure, the display of the liquid crystal panel 31 is canceled in the next step 240, and in the next step 242, it is determined whether or not the exposure processing has been completed for all the additional patterns. When the unexposed additional pattern remains, a negative determination is made, and the process proceeds to step 246 to convey the photographic printing paper 54 by a predetermined distance in preparation for exposure of the next image. Then step 2
Returning to step 34, the new additional pattern is read out, and the image obtained by combining the new additional pattern and the main image portion 142A is exposed in the same manner as described above.

An image obtained by combining each additional pattern with the main image portion 142A as described above is printed one by one on the photographic paper 54.
To be exposed. When the exposure processing has been completed for all the additional patterns, an affirmative decision is made in step 242, and the operation proceeds to step 244, in which the exposed photographic printing paper 54 is developed, fixed, washed, and washed in the processor section 72.
Each process of drying is performed to produce a photographic print.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the additional patterns in each image are sequentially switched and displayed on the liquid crystal panel 31, and the printing paper 54 can be exposed without any trouble. That is, unlike the prior art, the work of exchanging the pre-exposure mask each time the additional pattern is exposed becomes unnecessary, and the labor required for playing cards as described above can be reduced.

The additional pattern and the main image portion may be exposed at different timings. In the main image portion, the portion corresponding to the additional pattern is masked before the main exposure optical system 46. May be exposed at.

Further, in the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, the example in which the present invention is applied to the printer processor having the sub-printing section is shown. However, the photograph constituted by the separate index printer and paper processor is shown. A printing system, a liquid crystal photographic printer having an image memory, a liquid crystal panel for displaying image data stored in the image memory, and an exposure system capable of exposing the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel,
Can also be applied to.

[0066]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention,
It is possible to obtain the effect that the pixel density of the print can be improved while minimizing the cost increase without installing the piezoelectric element. In addition, since the distance on the photosensitive material corresponding to the pixel pitch is larger than the pixel pitch on the liquid crystal panel, the distance on the photosensitive material is larger than the distance on the photosensitive material that is controlled by a piezoelectric element as in the conventional case. Is more easily controlled, and the effect that it can be performed with higher accuracy is obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the additional image portion of each image is sequentially switched to form an image to be displayed on the liquid crystal panel in combination with the main image portion, and the image can be easily displayed on the liquid crystal panel. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the effect that the light-sensitive material can be exposed without any trouble.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer processor according to first and second embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer unit in the printer processor of the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing an exposure area on the photographic paper when the image is exposed once, and FIG. 3B is an exposure area on the photographic paper when the image is exposed again after the photographic paper is conveyed. It is a figure.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a control routine of exposure processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates simultaneous exposure of multiple images.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a main image portion and an additional pattern according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a playing card print according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control routine for playing cards according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Printer Processor 20 Main Control Section 23 Sub Control Section 31 Liquid Crystal Panel 54 Printing Paper (Photosensitive Material) 58 Printer Section 106 Image Memory (Memory) 142A Main Image Section 142B Additional Pattern (Additional Image Section)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A photographic printer comprising an exposure unit for displaying an image on a liquid crystal panel to expose the photosensitive material, the photosensitive material having a pixel pitch of the liquid crystal panel after the image is exposed by the exposure unit. A movement control means for moving the photosensitive material with respect to the liquid crystal panel by a distance of, and an exposure control means for controlling the exposure section so as to expose the image again after moving the photosensitive material by the movement control means, Photo printer with. 2. A method of exposure in a photographic printer, comprising an exposure unit for displaying an image on a liquid crystal panel and exposing the photosensitive material, wherein the exposure unit exposes the image, and the exposure process corresponds to the pixel pitch of the liquid crystal panel. An exposure method, wherein the photosensitive material is moved by a distance on the material with respect to the liquid crystal panel, and the image is exposed again by the exposure section. 3. An exposure method in a photographic printer having an exposure unit for displaying an image on a liquid crystal panel and exposing the photosensitive material, wherein a main image unit in which each image is commonly incorporated in the same region of each image. And an additional image part other than the main image part, and the additional image part in each image is sequentially switched to combine with the main image part to form an image to be displayed on the liquid crystal panel. Method.